So what is the differences between French and UK beds and why aren't the French up to the mark?
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There's an exact science involved in bed-manufacturing. A properly designed mattress should adapt to the shape of your body, not the other way round. The best made British beds and mattresses have a long tradition and design all of their own, geared to provide the best levels of support and comfort. Pocket-springing has been around for over 100 years and there is little doubt that the Brits do it best!
Over the years, British manufacturers have found ways of putting more and more springs into mattresses (and the bases underneath them) to provide better and better support for the spine. Couple that with the best natural fibres, for example, lambswool, mohair, silk, cashmere, and horse hair, which Mother Nature has given animals to keep them warm in winter and cool in summer, wick away their perspiration, and cushion them when they lie down, and you have unparalleled comfort. And finally, the best British manufacturers employ specialist craftsmen whose skills have been handed down through generations. You will often find whole families employed at one factory. For example, Hypnos Beds (the only bed manufacturer with a UK Royal Warrant) is still in the hands of its founding family after more than 100 years. You just can't find better beds anywhere in the World.
French beds, on the other hand, are most often of a bed-frame design, with slats and a hard, shallow "sommier" supporting the mattress. "Matelas" are often thin, with a high foam content, or foam with a few hundred springs. They also seem to be either very hard or very soft. Either way, your back curves when your muscles relax, and you get up in the morning with back-ache that often takes an hour or more to ease. Not really a lit de luxe (luxury bed) and a refreshing nights sleep!
If you compare these French mattresses with a few hundred springs with a British bed from Hypnos or Relyon (arguable the best bed manufactures in the world) we can see the difference in quality. For example the Hypnos Eminence boasts over 2000 independently pocketed-springs in the kingsize mattress which is upholstered with pure cotton felt, hand-teased white hair, cashmere, silk and lambswool. The three rows of genuine hand side-stitching to the mattress borders ensure greater edge-to-edge support.
Another example would be The Relyon Emperor which has over 3400 pocketed springs in the kingsize mattress, which is upholstered with cotton felt, lambswool, hand-teased merino wool, cashmere, mohair, and horse hair. Its five rows of hand stitching provide the greatest edge-to edge support possible. The mattress is supported by a deep divan with 1000 pocketed springs and a further two rows of hand side-stitching.
Why British expats miss British beds so much when they move to France? Is it the textures/quality/comfort/style/price? Don't the French traditionally have beautiful furniture?
Apart from the vastly superior support and comfort we've already mentioned, many Brits love the traditional "divan" styling which is hard to find among in French beds! Of course, French wooden beds and cabinet-making is absolutely beautiful, but it's a completely different concept. Part of the "tradition" of a divan bed (or "box-spring" as our American customers call it) is the joy of dressing it with fabulous bed linen, although some modern divans are being offered with choices of fabrics so that they can integrate even more into you own bedroom design. And then, of course, the opportunity to have drawers fitted into the divan-base is so convenient, particularly in cupboard-less apartments!
A single bedroom can be so much more than just a place to sleep. With a little thought and planning you can greatly increase the value of what is often a very small space in your home.
For children and teenagers, a single bedroom can their own personal space in which to study, entertain friends, relax and listen to music, while a spare single room can double up both as an office and a guestroom. Your single room should be furnished to support its various functions. Luckily furniture is now designed to be more flexible than ever, helping you make the most of the space in your room.
Furnishing a single bedroom for a child or teenager
The bed is the key piece of furniture in a child or teenager's room, and will usually be a single bed. A standard single bed is 3' x 6'3", though you can find narrower beds with a width of 2' 6" if you need a bed to fit into an awkward space. However, teenagers in particular spend a lot of time lying on their bed playing games or chatting on the phone, so it may be worth going for a 3' 6" wide super single bed, which gives them 6 extra inches of space to lounge about on.
If your child or teenager likes to have friends round, another option is to buy a futon, which doubles up as a sofa during the day, creating a place for guests to sit. Throws and big cushions will help create a relaxing, informal atmosphere.
Children, teenagers or students returning from university for the holidays need somewhere to study. Lying on the bed or on the sofa in front of the TV to work isn't the ideal way to aid concentration, so get a desk that's big enough to hold a computer and also has sufficient space for making notes from textbooks.
If there isn't space in the room for an adequate sized desk, consider a loft bed, raised from the ground to free up the space below. Some bunk beds are also designed to incorporate a workstation underneath. You'll also need a straight-backed, ergonomically designed chair that will be comfortable for your child or teenager to sit at for long periods of time.
Make sure there's plenty of space within easy reach of the desk for your child to put their files, books and stationery to avoid clutter on the desktop. Get a desk with drawers for stationery, and make use of vertical space by fixing up some shelves for books and files. Put some pin boards on the walls for sticking up reminders and notes, or for displaying certificates.
The lighting in the room needs to be suitable for studying at all times of day. Use blinds to block out sunlight and buy an adjustable desk lamp for the evenings. The light should cover the whole of the desk and have a shade to prevent glare.
Kids tend to have a lot of electronic equipment: Playstations, keyboards, music systems and computer accessories. Leaving them on the floor wastes valuable space, as well as exposing them to damage. Storage units designed for this purpose will help keep electronic items safe. Underbed storage boxes or bins are a good way of storing things that are only infrequently used.
Teenagers are often keen to decorate their rooms themselves to express their individuality. If you can't agree on a colour scheme, compromise by keeping most of the décor neutral and allowing them one wall in a bright colour, along with matching accessories like curtains and bedding. This should make it easier to redecorate if you move house.
Making a single bedroom BUT into a guest room
If you have a small room that you use as an office or computer room, it can also double up as a bedroom for single guests. It is possible to make a small room welcoming for guests without adding more clutter.
A single bed doesn't take up much space and can be used as a sofa on the days when you're working. Make sure the mattress on the bed is firm and comfortable and add plenty of cushions and pillows. If you have a closet, clear a foot or two of space for your guest to hang their clothes up.
Instead of throwing out your old TV, mount it on a shelf on the wall opposite the bed so your guest can relax in front of it before going to bed. A small bookcase can double up as a bedside cabinet for guests. Just place a lamp and alarm clock on the top and include a selection of books and magazines below.